Racecards
14:50 Chester
Totesport Chester Cup Heritage Handicap (Class 2)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 147y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £120,000 added
Dancing Bay
298- Form 44/2460-
- Age 10
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey E Ahern
in touch, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, eased final furlong
- Form 65536-3
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 100
always prominent, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression on leaders inside final furlong
- Form 930883-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey N Callan
mid-division, ridden over 6f out, progress over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, eased inside final furlong
- Form 131305-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 93
mid-division, headway over 3f out, edged slightly right over 1f out, led 1f out, ran on well under pressure inside final furlong
Afrad (FR)
323- Form 67110/0-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Richard Hughes
with leader until over 9f out, ridden 5f out, weakening when hampered over 4f out
- Form 11250-3
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer M A Jarvis
- Jockey P Robinson
held up in touch, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
Odiham
7- Form 0810-15
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey S J Drowne
held up in touch, hampered 4f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 059/160-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 87
led, headed 8f out, weakened well over 4f out, eased final furlong
- Form 70172-6
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer W R Swinburn
- Jockey A Kirby
held up towards rear, ridden over 4f out, no progress
- Form 90831-9
- Age 7
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 86
in touch, went 2nd over 9f out, led 8f out, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 51265-0
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer J A Osborne
- Jockey M Dwyer
held up, headway over 3f out, hung left over 1f out, ran on well towards finish
- Form 43/4114-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey J P Spencer
reminder soon after start, mid-division, headway on outside 5f out, led 3f out, headed 1f out, stayed on
- Form 21406-2
- Age 5
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
held up and behind, headway over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, never troubled leaders
Flare Star
27- Form 21010-4
- Age 4
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer T Hogan
- Jockey Wayne Lordan
prominent until weakened quickly over 5f out, virtually pulled up from over 1f out, tailed off
- Form 144116-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey T P O'Shea
mid-division, pushed along briefly 6f out, headway over 4f out, led over 3f out, soon headed, held when not much room and hampered over 1f out, one pace after
- Form 0/16290-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Miss K Marks
- Jockey S Donohoe
held up and behind, ridden over 3f out, never in contention
- Form 16-0943
- Age 5
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 82
held up, headway on outside over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, weakened
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Arkle second Fair Along has experience of tight twisting tracks so cannot be ruled out but he wasn't that good on the flat last year and so the four to concentrate on appear to be Galient, Grafton Street, Greenwich Meantime and last-year's winner Admiral and the tentative vote goes to Greenwich Meantime. An unlucky third in this race last year, Richard Fahey has aimed the horse at today's race on purpose. He runs well fresh, is at his best on sharp left-handed tracks and whilst he will once again need plenty of luck in running from his high draw given his hold-up style, if the gaps do come he looks sure to take advantage. Ante-post favourite Galient is not well-drawn for one who likes to race prominently so is reluctantly passed over even though he will come on for his recent run. Odiham beat him that day and is a true stayer but he is not guaranteed to confirm those placings. Last-year's winner Admiral is only two pounds higher this time around and from his good draw he must have a great chance, although his jockey will need to give him another truly outstanding ride to repeat the feat today. Grafton Street has only had one run in Ireland and steps up markedly in trip today. His trainer wouldn't be doing that if it wouldn't suit so he must be a danger, as must Raucous who won well at Ripon recently and is very unexposed. Competitive as ever, this year's Chester Cup can go to Greenwich Meantime.
Formwatch
Dancing Bay 16-1 (9-10) Prominent, ridden and weakened 7f out, eased when no chance final 2f, last of 14, 41l behind Finalmente (8-13) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Jul.
Under The Rainbow 14-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, led 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Mount Kilimanjaro (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stk (1) gf in Apr.
Winged d'Argent (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, headway 4f out, ridden to chase leading pair 2f out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Theatre (8-10) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Greenwich Meantime 7-1 (8-13) Towards rear, effort over 5f out, never dangerous, 5th of 7, 18l behind Sunday Symphony (9-3) at York 1m 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gd in Sept.
Afrad (FR) 25-1 (9-10) In touch, ridden and weakened over 4f out, virtually pulled up final 2f, 23rd of 29, well behind Baddam (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gf in Jun.
Galient (IRE) 6-4fav (9-1) Tracked leader, led 4f out, headed 2f out, chased leader to over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Odiham (9-8) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Apr.
Odiham 12-1 (9-0) Soon chasing winner, driven along over 6f out, lost 2nd over 3f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 17l behind Tungsten Strike (9-0) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) gf.
Admiral (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Tracked leader until weakened 5f out, virtually pulled up final 3f, lame, 28th of 29, well behind Baddam (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gf in Jun.
Nordwind (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway 2f out, never nearer, 6th of 14, 6l behind Lake Poet (8-11) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
Dr Sharp (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 10l behind Raucous (8-6) at Ripon 2m hcap (2) gf in Apr.
Enjoy The Moment 5-1 (8-13) Raced in last place, switched right over 3f out, never nearer, 10th of 14, 8l behind Lake Poet (8-11) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
Fair Along (GER) 6-4fav (9-4) Led and set quick pace, headed halfway, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 9, 18l behind Theatre (8-10) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Sept.
Whispering Death 3-1 (9-9) Awkward start, held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened close home, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Power of Future (9-4) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Flare Star 5-1 (9-9) Mid-division, 8th halfway, kept on from 2f out, 4th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Clopf (9-4) at Tipperary 1m 6f stk gf in Apr.
Som Tala 4-1co-fav (8-13) Held up, chased leaders halfway, weakened 3f out, 6th of 10, 23l behind Juniper Girl (8-2) at York 2m 2f hcap (3) sft in Oct.
Corum (IRE) 20-1 (8-2) Chased leaders, driven along 3f out, weakened rapidly, 17th of 18, 10l behind Folio (8-6) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Nov.
Dzesmin (POL) 20-1 (8-6) Held up well in rear, ridden and headway from 2f out, ran on to take 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Lake Poet (8-11) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
Grafton Street (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Mid-division, 10th halfway, headway early straight, led over 1f out, driven out, comfortably, won at Curragh 1m 4f hcp 0-100 gf in Apr beating Grand Revival (7-13) by 1l, 18 ran.